Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping (IABP) at Different Levels of Experimental Acute Left Ventricular Failure

Abstract

Effectiveness of infra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) as a circulatory assist device was experimentally evaluated in eight groups of dogs at various stages in the sequence: coronary occlusion—myocardial infarction—acute left ventricular failure—coronary shock. When instituted during the period of reversibility of myocardial ischemic changes produced by coronary ligation, IABP unproved collateral coronary flow, limited the extent of myocardial necrosis and prevented the development of left ventricular failure. When instituted following the development of acute left ventricular failure, IABP “assisted” the left ventricle, as evidenced by improvement in left ventricular dimensions, pressures, flows, systemic and myocardial metabolic parameters. When instituted at the stage of shock, IABP had only slight and transient effects. Problems related to the use of IABP were studied. Lack of a 100 percent fail-safe device was viewed as the main deterrent, at the present time, to clinical application. Effectiveness of infra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) as a circulatory assist device was experimentally evaluated in eight groups of dogs at various stages in the sequence: coronary occlusion—myocardial infarction—acute left ventricular failure—coronary shock. When instituted during the period of reversibility of myocardial ischemic changes produced by coronary ligation, IABP unproved collateral coronary flow, limited the extent of myocardial necrosis and prevented the development of left ventricular failure. When instituted following the development of acute left ventricular failure, IABP “assisted” the left ventricle, as evidenced by improvement in left ventricular dimensions, pressures, flows, systemic and myocardial metabolic parameters. When instituted at the stage of shock, IABP had only slight and transient effects. Problems related to the use of IABP were studied. Lack of a 100 percent fail-safe device was viewed as the main deterrent, at the present time, to clinical application.